hem up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To restrain (a person) by grabbing their collar.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Taking him home she hemmed him up soon as they stepped in the door. Now Tony was a bad dude in the streets but when it came to his mama, he was a punk. A few cuss words on her part had him spilling everything.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To arrest or lock up.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hem up” mean?
To restrain (a person) by grabbing their collar.
Is “hem up” formal or informal?
hem up is generally informal.